Fitchburg State University (FSU) formally opened a Veterans Center in Thompson Hall on Tuesday to support to veterans seeking higher education.
“I am proud of this institution’s efforts to welcome returning veterans, and I’m honored we have created a space on this campus for these men and women to gather, collaborate, reflect and learn,” FSU President Richard S. Lapidus said at a ceremony marking the opening, according to a statement from FSU.
Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services Secretary Francisco A. Ureña said at the dedication that enrolling in the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, after serving eight years in the Marine Corps “was a turning point” for him.
“I really congratulate Fitchburg State and the leadership here for initiating this great space to allow vets to gather,” Ureña said.
Fitchburg State faculty and administrators have spent the past year collaborating on efforts centered on meeting the needs of returning veterans, including presentations from outside experts, according to the school.
“FSU’s recently formed Student Veterans Organization will become a safe haven for returning war vets with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) that without it would not be able to attend college in person,” Russell Jones, a veteran and a student who helped start the organization, said at the dedication. “This Veterans Center will provide critical support for that mission. … It will become a training ground for success, and in turn its members will make Fitchburg State University proud.”
